The Hooters' Eric Bazilian performs Saturday at Chaplin's

Eric Bazilian has nothing musically to prove to anyone. An award winning songwriter, musician and producer, Bazilian is probably best known as a cofounding member of Philly’s hometown musical heroes the “Hooters.”

Along with band mates Rob Hyman (keyboards), David Uosikkinen (drums), John Lilley (guitar) and Andy King (bass), later replaced by current bassist Fran Smith, Jr., the band became the toast of Philly and beyond. The Hooters have sold millions of records worldwide on the strength of the hits “And We Danced,” “South Ferry Road,” “Where Do The Children Go,” “Karla With A K,” “5000 Miles” and the band’s anthem “All You Zombies.”

Opening for “The Who” in 1982 at JFK Stadium was a foreshadowing of the band’s future success. The Hooters would go on to play an important role in the decade’s most significant concert events by performing at the original 1985 Live Aid Concert in Philadelphia, Amnesty International concert at Giants Stadium the following year and Roger Waters “Berlin Wall Concert” in 1990.

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“I’m proud of all of it,” reflects Bazilian “We started a band from nothing and built a fierce local following, putting out independent records that sold better than most major label releases do these days. We got signed to one of the biggest labels in the world. We sold millions of records and recorded songs that made the whole world sing.”

Bazilian’s musical roots run deep. As a 10-year-old boy, his destiny was forever changed on a February night in 1964 after witnessing the Beatles’ American TV debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” By his mid-teens, he was writing songs, playing in his first band (“Evil Seed”) and performing in and around Philadelphia. While attending the University of Pennsylvania in the mid-’70s, Bazilian formed the band “Baby Grand” with Rob Hyman and Rick Chertoff.

Although the band attained minimal success, the musical bond and friendship that Bazilian, Hyman and Chertoff developed would serve as a springboard to the formation of “The Hooters.” Bazilian and Hyman remain as the principal songwriters in the band, while Chertoff departed after producing Nervous Night, One Way Home and Zig Zag.

As an award-winning, internationally recognized musician, Bazilian has written hit songs, produced and recorded with a variety of artists, including Jonatha Brooke, Ricky Martin, the Scorpions, Cyndi Lauper and Sophie B. Hawkins. He produced Joan Osborne’s Grammy nominated debut album, “Relish,” which featured Bazilian’s most notable songwriting effort, “One Of Us.”

Splitting time between the Philadelphia area and his second home in Sweden, Bazilian is coming off a year of musical accomplishment.

“I just spent a year in Sweden finishing the collaboration I was doing with Mats Wester from Nordman, which is a legendary band in Sweden,” he said. “We’ve been working on this stuff for over 10 years. We did a bunch of shows over there, which was a lot of fun. I also spent a lot of time writing with different people, which was another goal that I had.

“To work in different genres just to spread myself out a bit and try some different stuff — it was great. Time will tell how successful any of it was. But, I made some great music and made a lot of good friends along the way. Then it was time for me to come back.”

“As far as a new solo album — yes, I’m way overdue for that,” says Bazilian. “In a way this record I just did with Mats is sort of the latest in a chain of solo records, although it’s a collaboration. It’s all my lyrics and all my singing. I feel as personally connected to that as I do my solo stuff.”

“I’ve gotten to work on incredibly gratifying projects,” reflects Bazilian. “To write a song like “One Of Us,” that everyone in the world knows, is the feather in my cap. It has been a ticket to just about anywhere.

“People will take my calls. They won’t always return them, but they take a message. I’m incredibly grateful,” added Bazilian. “When I have my moments of doubt, all I have to do is just look back at pictures of the Hooters playing Live Aid. I’ve got no lack of things to be proud of and grateful for.”

Eric Bazilian performs at Chaplin’s Music Cafe, 66 North Main Street Spring City, PA 19475, this Saturday at 8:00 P.M. Tickets are $20 in advance/ $25 day of show and can be purchased by calling 610-792-4110 or on-line at www.chaplinsmusiccafe.com.

About the Author

A Philadelphia based music journalist for over 30 years, Rob has interviewed, reviewed and photographed hundreds of well-known musicians and athletes. Working with almost every major music venue in the Philadelphia area, his writing has appeared in a variety of entertainment publications and newspapers. His work can frequently be found in print and on the web in the 21st Century Media newspapers. Rob resides in Phoenixville, Pa. Reach the author at (Unknown address)
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